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Many women think that their muscles will get too big if
they train with weights, while others believe that muscle-building
exercises don’t provide the expected results in the female
body.

Given that women don’t have the same muscle structure as men,
is it possible that they can gain muscle mass?

Testosterone and genetics

Testosterone, a hormone found in large amounts in men and
much smaller amounts in women, is one of the components needed to
build muscle mass. Women that are interested in body building and
have lifted weights for a few months without achieving the expected
results could become disappointed and think that it is not possible
to gain the muscle mass they would like. Although testosterone
does play an important role in building muscle, it is not the only
determining factor. Genetics has a lot to do with a person’s
ability to build muscle.

Every person has a different genetic makeup and, therefore, each
body reacts differently to exercise. Genetics determines the
distribution of muscle and type of muscle fibers that make up your
body. Genetics also determines the testosterone-estrogen (female
hormone) ratio, the body fat distribution, and your body type.

What’s your body type?

There are three main body types, and every woman has a
specific body type or a combination of the three:

Mesomorph: muscular bodies that can increase the
size of their muscles more rapidly than the other types.

Endomorph: more rounded bodies; people with this
body type usually need to lose weight to be able to notice the
results of weight training.

Ectomorph: very thin bodies; people with this body
type usually become stronger when they lift weights on a regular
basis, but the results are not obvious in terms of the size of
their muscles.

Would you like to look stronger?

If you are interested in body building, or just want to look
more muscular or be stronger, you will have to lift weights and do
endurance exercise. To develop your muscles, you’ll have to lift
more weight and do fewer repetitions. To increase your endurance,
use lighter weights and do more repetitions.

No matter what your goal is, you’ll be able to attain it more
easily if you understand and accept your body type. Don’t feel
guilty and don’t compare your figure with that of other women you
see in magazines, on the street, or at the gym, because their body
type may be very different from yours.

Pay attention to the way exercise makes you feel and don’t
concentrate so much on how your body looks. Enjoy feeling stronger
and full of energy thanks to exercise, and that stamina will show
in everything you do.